Epstein was ‘strangled’ claims doc at autopsy as he calls for brand spanking new probe into dying

Dr Michael Baden has called for the cause of the paedophile’s death to be reinvestigated, almost seven years after he was found dead in his jail cell awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges

View 7 Images

Jeffrey Epstein was strangled in his prison cell and his death should be reinvestigated, a doctor who was at his post-mortem has sensationally claimed.

Dr Michael Baden, 91, believes the convicted paedophile was not hanged and is “not convinced” he took his own life at the Manhattan jail where he was being held awaiting trial on sex tracking charges in 2019.

Dr Baden, a pathologist hired by Epstein’s estate, said: “My opinion is that his death was most likely caused by strangulation pressure rather than hanging. Given all the information now available, further investigation into the cause and manner of death is warranted.”

He was present during the examination but he did not carry it out. He acted as an observer on behalf of Epstein’s family at the New York Medical Examiner’s Office, which ruled Eptein took his own life.

He told the Telegraph:”At the time that the autopsy was was the done by the medical examiner, we both agreed that, on the basis of the autopsy report and the information available, more information was needed to determine mine the cause and manner of death.”

Footage from inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center on the night Epstein died was among the millions of files released by the US government and seems to have a minute missing from the clip during which time it is said a murderer may have snuck into his cell.

And in another clip from that night, an orange “flash” can be seen moving toward his cell door, which some have theorised could be his alleged murderer, dressed in prison overalls.

A redacted version of Epstein’s post mortem examination was released in December in which the sex offender’s “manner of death” is marked as “pending”. Boxes for both suicide and homicide are left blank.

Dr Baden said his professional findings following the post-mortem on August 11, 2019 were “inconclusive”, but he claimed Epstein’s death certificate was then published pending further investigation of the cause.

He added: “I have not seen any evidence of further study, nothing that indicated further investigation into the cause of death.”

Dr Baden first raised concerns over Epstein’s death being ruled ruled a suicide in August 2019 when he told Fox News “the evidence points toward homicide rather than suicide”.

He told the Telegraph this week: “That was my opinion at that time and I still stand by it. The autopsy findings are much more consistent with a crushing injury caused by homicidal strangulation than caused by hanging by suicide.”

The FBI and the DoJ under Donald Trump have both stated that Epstein killed himself and that there is no evidence he was murdered.

The official autopsy lists three distinct fractures on Epstein’s neck: one on the left hyoid and one in the thyroid cartilage on the right side, and one on the left. Dr Baden said that he has never seen a hanging by suicide with three neck fractures.

Many have questioned how such a high profile inmate on suicide watch managed to take his own life in his cell. A series of strange circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death have only fuelled the fire of those who find the death suspicious.

But Dr Baden’s findings have been dismissed by officials. Dr Barbara Sampson, New York’s then-chief medical examiner, said fractures of the hyoid bone and the cartilage are seen in both suicides and homicides.

And recently released Epstein files show the guards on duty that night failed to check on Epstein for hours, despite being required to do so every 30 minutes. And two cameras near his cell either were not working or failed to record.

According to the official report, a noose made of an orange bedsheet collected at the scene was later determined not to be one used in Epstein’s death.

But Dr Baden added: “The noose didn’t match the [injury]. It wasn’t smooth like the sheet, the markings [on Epstein’s neck] would have required a different type of material.”

He also said critical evidence was lost because of mistakes made with the handling of Epstein’s body, adding: “[They] moved the body, guards refused to say how the body was found, and he was moved to the infirmary.”

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.